People Quote by Erik Larson
“The Lusitania is important, of course, because this is where Germany began its maritime campaign using this brand-new weapon. We have to appreciate how the submarine, as a weapon against civilian shipping, was a particularly novel thing - so novel that many people at the time dismissed its potential power, its potential relevance.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson, 2020
The passage highlights the novelty of submarine warfare and early skepticism about its impact.
In simple terms: Submarines were a new, underestimated weapon.
Question new technologies critically.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- World War I naval strategy
- policy debates
- public perception
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors cause underestimation of new weapons?
- How can societies adapt faster?
Skepticism can delay response.